Relative arrested for allegedly threatening former Cranston mayor

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A man is facing charges for allegedly threatening to injure former Cranston Mayor Michael Napolitano on Tuesday.

According to police, 59-year-old Mark Ruggieri, a cousin of former Mayor Napolitano, is charged with domestic disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Responding officers said they arrived at Napolitano’s office which is when they learned Ruggieri allegedly left a voicemail, then later came to the property threatening physical violence against Napolitano.

It is alleged that Ruggieri showed up at the back door of the office and began making threatening comments. He later entered the office and yelled at employees for about five minutes, police said.

In the voicemail, police said Ruggieri can be heard screaming so loud, the microphone was becoming hard to understand.

According to a police report, Ruggieri mentioned in the voice message a restraining order with his neighbors, and said he was coming to the office. The circumstances surrounding that restraining order were not immediately available.

It is alleged that Ruggieri was under the impression that Napolitano was working with his neighbors to get the order against him.

Police later caught up with Ruggieri and attempted to talk to him about what happened, at which point he became combative, police said.

While being placed in custody, Ruggieri allegedly said he “wasn’t going to go” and then attempted to fall away from officers in attempt to resist.